Los Angeles 3-day itinerary

Start at Santa Monica Pier — the ferris wheel, arcade, and Pacific Ocean panorama. Walk the palisades path above the beach for cleaner views, then descend to the sand and walk south to Venice Beach. Pass Muscle Beach outdoor gym and the Venice Skatepark where locals pull off insane tricks. Breakfast at Gjusta Bakery on Sunset Avenue in Venice — their smoked fish toast ($14) and pastries are outstanding, or grab a $8 breakfast burrito from a nearby taco truck.

Explore Abbot Kinney Boulevard — Venice's trendiest strip with boutiques, galleries, and excellent coffee at Intelligentsia. Lunch at Gjelina for seasonal Cal-Italian ($18–25 mains) or keep it cheap at Tacos Por Favor on Olympic ($3.50/taco). Then drive to the Getty Center — free admission, stunning architecture by Richard Meier, incredible art collection, and panoramic views from the hilltop gardens. The tram ride up is part of the experience.

Drive up to the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood — the legendary stretch of Sunset Boulevard lined with music venues, comedy clubs, and rooftop bars. Catch a comedy show at The Comedy Store ($20–25) where every major comedian has performed. Dinner on Santa Monica Boulevard in WeHo — night market vibes with global street food. End at a rooftop bar on the Strip — Skybar at the Mondrian for cocktails ($18–22) and city views.

Walk Hollywood Boulevard for the Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre handprints, and the Egyptian Theatre. It's chaotic and touristy but you need to see it once. Then escape the madness with a hike up Runyon Canyon — the main trail is a 3.5-mile loop with incredible panoramic views of the city and the Hollywood Sign. The trailhead is on Fuller Avenue just above Hollywood Boulevard. Bring water — it gets hot fast.

Head to Museum Row on Wilshire Boulevard. LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art, $20) houses 140,000 works — the Urban Light lamppost installation outside is LA's most photographed spot. Next door, the La Brea Tar Pits are a surreal prehistoric site where mammoths were trapped in natural asphalt (free to view the outdoor pits). Lunch at the LACMA cafe or walk to the Original Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax — a 1934 food hall with 100+ vendors.

Head northeast to Highland Park — LA's fastest-evolving neighborhood. York Boulevard is lined with craft breweries (Highland Park Brewery, excellent IPAs $7–9), taco spots, and vintage stores. Dinner at Café Birdie for Mediterranean plates ($16–24) or keep it real at Tacos El Pollo — grilled chicken tacos for $3. Then to Echo Park for drinks at The Short Stop (dive bar, $5 beers) or 1642 Bar for mezcal cocktails.

Start in DTLA's Arts District — an industrial neighborhood turned creative hub with galleries, street art, and some of LA's best coffee at Verve on Mateo Street. Walk past the murals on 7th Street and browse the galleries. Head to Grand Central Market on Broadway — a 1917 food hall with 40+ vendors. Egg Slut does the city's most famous breakfast sandwich ($10), or try Tacos Tumbras a Tomas for Oaxacan tlayudas ($12).

Drive or bus to Griffith Observatory — free admission, free parking on weekdays before 2pm, and LA's best panoramic views. On a clear day: downtown skyline, Pacific Ocean, and the Hollywood Sign all in one frame. The observatory's Samuel Oschin Planetarium ($7) runs shows every 45 minutes. Hike the Brush Canyon Trail to the closest Hollywood Sign viewpoint — a 6.3-mile round trip, or take the shorter Charlie Turner trail (1.5 miles).

Finish in Koreatown — LA's densest, most energetic neighborhood. Korean BBQ at Kang Ho-dong Baekjeong or Quarters ($25–35 per person, you grill your own meat at the table). The soju flows freely. After dinner, rent a noraebang (karaoke room) at Pharaoh Karaoke — private rooms from $20/hour with a massive song library. K-town nightlife runs late — bars like The Prince and Dan Sung Sa stay packed until 2am.